The 2014 Neighborhood Park and Street Fund (NPSF) applications are now available. Do you have a park or street improvement project in mind for your neighborhood? Applications are due on February 3, 2014.

What is the Neighborhood Park and Street Fund (NPSF)? Each year a portion of Seattle’s city budget – approximately $1.2 million in 2014 – is set aside for neighborhood streets and parks improvements. This means that each of Seattle’s 13 neighborhood districts will receive approx. to $90K to go towards neighborhood projects that are proposed by the COMMUNITY (that is you!).

Who decides which projects will be funded? The NPSF is a competitive process and not all projects will be funded. Each Neighborhood District Council will review applications and select three projects to forward to the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Seattle Parks and Recreation (Parks) for detailed feasibility and cost analysis. Funding decisions are based on recommendations from District Councils, Parks and SDOT, with the final decisions made by the Mayor. For more information, contact your Neighborhood District Coordinator.

How are proposals evaluated? Neighborhood District Councils are looking for projects which meet the fund source criteria listed above and also will consider the following:

Significant Impact: The project will have a widespread positive impact on the neighborhood as a whole.

Broad Support: The project has the support of multiple neighborhood or community groups. Both residential and business groups are encouraged to apply.

Leveraging Opportunities: The project also qualifies for funding from another City source, and therefore leaves more NPF money available for other projects.

Equity: Funding is to be equitably shared among the districts over time. Neighborhoods that are already receiving significant public investment from other sources may be also given lower priority.